Aimed at addressing Metro Manila’s worsening road congestion as the Japan International Cooperation Agency earlier pointed out that the city faced PHP3.5 billion (US$6.6 million) in economic daily losses as of 2017.

The Mega Manila project was tipped to be the first and only underground train system in the works, but a second prviately-backed subway project in Makati City is also being developed.

In October, the Makati City local government had awarded Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc. (IRC) to build and operate the underground train system with Private Partnership Selection Committee of Makati City.

The privatised railway will involve Chinese partners who are investing some PHP196 billion (US$3.7 billion) in the project.